St. Peter's Basilica audio tour with Vatican Grottoes included

Michelangelo's Pietà and the tombs of a hundred popes underground

A self-guided audio tour of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, played on your smartphone as you move through the basilica interior and the Vatican Grottoes at your own pace. The tour includes offline content so you can listen without roaming charges, and covers St. Peter's Square, the Pietà, St. Peter's statue, Bernini's baldachin, and the underground graveyard where popes, kings and saints are buried. Admission to the basilica is not included. You book per device, not per participant, and need an Android or iOS phone with 100–150 MB of storage space.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. St. Peter's Square13m
2. La Pietà6m
3. St. Peter's Basilica24m

Explore St. Peter's Basilica and surroundings

• Start at St. Peter's Square
• Admire Bernini's colonnades and obelisk
• Learn Basilica's history and transformations
• View Michelangelo’s Pietà
• Discover Medieval bronze statue of St. Peter
• Marvel at St. Peter’s Baldachin under the dome
• Explore Vatican Grottoes and tombs

The experience

Bernini's colossal colonnades frame St. Peter's Square, where the audio tour begins with the story of the basilica's centuries of transformation. As you walk inside, the narration guides you past Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces designed by Bramante, Giacomo Della Porta and Maderno, each one explained as you stand in front of it. The tour's centerpiece is Michelangelo's Pietà, the marble sculpture of Mary holding the body of Christ that draws pilgrims from everywhere on earth.

Below the enormous dome, Bernini's baldachin marks the spot of St. Peter's tomb: a monumental bronze canopy whose religious symbolism and detailed motifs unfold through the audio narration. You'll also encounter the Medieval bronze statue of St. Peter, worn smooth by centuries of pilgrims' hands. The tour ends in the Vatican Grottoes, the vast underground cemetery beneath the basilica floor where more than a hundred popes, kings and saints rest in their tombs, each one named and contextualized by the audio guide.

The tour runs about ninety minutes and moves at whatever pace suits you. Download the app and audio content before you arrive so you can listen offline. Bring headphones, make sure your phone is fully charged, and have 100–150 MB of storage space free. The audio guide is available in English, French and German. Admission to St. Peter's Basilica itself is separate and not included in this booking.

What’s included

• Activation link to download the audio tour app.
• offline interactive map so you can listen without roaming charges.
• self-guided audio narration in English, French or German for your smartphone.
• access to the Vatican Grottoes as part of the route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Wednesday

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessiblePublic transport nearby

Operated by Clio Muse Tours

Is this one for you?Start from St. Peter's Square outside the basilica (no meeting point, no guide waiting), and move through the interior and grottoes entirely on your own schedule, which works best if you have a smartphone with enough battery and storage, and you prefer to explore without a live guide's pace or commentary.

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Top questions

What is Michelangelo's Pietà and where do I see it on this tour?

Michelangelo's Pietà is a marble sculpture of Mary holding the body of Christ, and it is one of the tour highlights inside St. Peter's Basilica. The audio narration explains the work as you stand in front of it.

Can I do this tour without buying a ticket to enter the basilica?

No. The audio tour itself is not an admission ticket. You must purchase separate entry to St. Peter's Basilica to walk inside and hear the narration. The audio guide is the content you listen to once you are already inside.

What happens in the Vatican Grottoes at the end of the tour?

The Vatican Grottoes are an underground cemetery beneath the basilica where the tour concludes. You walk through the vast graveyard to see the tombs of popes, kings, queens and saints, and the audio guide tells the story of each one.

Do I need to download anything before I visit, or can I stream the tour while I'm there?

Download the app and audio content before you arrive. Mobile signal inside the basilica may be weak and internet access unreliable, so offline listening ensures you hear the full narration without interruption. You need 100–150 MB of free storage space on your phone.

What kind of phone do I need for this tour?

You need an Android phone running version 5.0 or later, or an iOS phone newer than the iPhone 5. The tour is not compatible with Windows Phones, older iPhones, iPod Touch 5th generation or older, or iPad 4th generation or older. Bring headphones and make sure your battery is fully charged.

How long does the audio tour take?

The tour runs approximately ninety minutes, but you set the pace. You can pause, rewind or move faster through any section, so the actual time depends on how long you spend at each stop.